Your students might be unaware of how long they can stay on their parents' health insurance.

Answer: 26 years old.

Questions:

• There’s a misconception that young people don’t have to get insurance because they’re generally healthy and don’t need it. What’s one argument against this?
• Do you think there is a cost to being on a parent's health insurance plan? If so, do you think a child's insurance is more/less expensive than their parent's health insurance? 
• Do you think this is a good policy to allow young people to stay on their parent's health insurance plans up to this age? Why or why not? 

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (from HHS.gov):

"Under current law, if your plan covers children, you can now add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old.

Children can join or remain on a parent's plan even if they are:

• Married
• Not living with their parents
• Attending school
• Not financially dependent on their parents
• Eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan"

------------------

Looking for more on insurance? Check out NGPF's Insurance unit.

------------------

To receive a Question of the Day in your email sign up for the NGPF Blog.

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.